3. I realized that everyone on the roads, in the schools, at the pool, etc. is in a better mood because it is Friday.

4. I learned that picking up one month’s worth of dog poop in the backyard is a very effective consequence for a 12 year old

5. I received my gear from X2 Performance. Go team Florida! I cannot believe IMFL is only about 2 months away and I’m so excited to be part of this team. (I’ve also got a tri tank for actual race day):

7. I ran in the deep end of the pool because my hamstring hurt and I remembered why I hate running in the pool (I do miss my Pussy Posse friends).

8. I had a cold sore the size of Montana invade my lip (it is now healing):

9. I made a small purchase (the green seat is a Cobb tester to see if I and my tender parts like it):

10. I finished the first season of Orange Is The New Black and I do not think I can possibly wait until the next season comes out. Season #2 is currently filming, so not sure when it will be out. I think all of the characters are so well developed, I can’t decide who my favorite is (probably Doggett, the Bible spewing insane girl. I also like Crazy Eyes and that pervert Mendez).

11. I realized that you can’t please everyone, so you just have to make sure you are true to yourself and to those closest to you (no this is not the first time I leaned this, but it became clear again this week).

12. I learned that I had pictures from our summer trip to San Francisco on my camera that I forgot about:

This was when our cable car broke down:

I’m looking forward to a long bike ride tomorrow (70 miles or so) followed by a 4,000 yard swim (my longest to date!!). I am going to ride the Harvest Moon 70.3 course (plus some) since I have that race next week. You can still sign up, but it’s 95% full, so hurry.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

If I thought buying a car was a pain in the ass, buying a tri bike is even more pain in the assier.

Who knew there were so many measurements, choices in components, types of seats, graphics?? What happened to the days of riding my bike with the banana boat seat and tassels?

I did a lengthy tri bike measurement session a few weeks ago. Last night I found a bike I liked in Boulder (2012 Cannondale Slice – new), so today I had them fit it on me to try it out. I also tried a 2012 Specialized Transition, just for comparison purposes.

Three hours later (and much freaking poorer, although they did give me a free Vitamin Water), I walked out of the store empty handed, but with a receipt for the new Cannondale I had purchased. By tomorrow night it will have new aero bars, new tape and a few other adjustments and it will be mine and I will post many pictures – but here is the stock photo just so you can drool (only I’ll have black tape):

One issue that came up was the saddle. I was told I HAD to get a good saddle, not the one that came with the bike. The bike guy kept saying that this new saddle (called the COBB, like the salad) was a total necessity for my “soft tissue.”

At first I thought he meant my ass, but then I realized he was probably referring to the lady bits. I wanted to yell at him to just say “your crotch!” or “your labia majora!” (if he was a more formal anatomy kind of guy). But, I’m glad he didn’t say “pootang” or something because that would have been awkward.

Anyway, they did not have the COBB salads in stock, so I went to the webpage to price them (and of course a damn bike saddle has to be $170, really? Just so my “soft tissue” can be protected? – yeah probably worth it).

Anyway, what I realized in my research is that the founder of the COBB (John Cobb – imagine that!) has a killer sense of humor. Here is where he describes WHY the saddle is so important for us ladies:

“A social conversation triggered the thought, is your navel an "Innie" or an "Outie"? So to go to the next level for Females, are your "girl parts" an "Innie or an "Outie", there is a very obvious difference. The vagina in general and the vulva and labia particularly, make up the female parts that cause most of the concerns for the female riders. Putting direct pressure on any of these will soon lead to unhappiness and short bike rides.

For the "Outies", the vulva and the labia are much more pronounced and exposed, often showing as a physically larger area. For the "Innies", the vulva and the labia tend to be more enclosed or drawn up internally and the crotch area is smoother.

So after a lot of dancing around, there is the answer, go look at your crotch and make the call, comfort and happiness are what you stand to gain by looking and making the best choice.”

John Cobb is my kind of dude. Tells it like it is. GO LOOK AT YOUR CROTCH!!

How did I get to be 46 years old and never know that my girl parts could be an innie or an outie? At least now I know which seat to get. And, no I’m not going to tell you. But, my navel is an innie.

Ever had pain in the saddle while riding? Not really. I mean after being on there for 6 hours things get a bit tender, but nothing dramatic.

I love that picture because it shows my good posture. I also like to play a game called “count all of the tendons in my neck.”

Here I am trying to act all cool like I am not freezing my balls off. Nothing breaks me down like being cold.

The fun really started when I hit the water. This has never happened to me before in a race, but I completely and totally lost my breath. I could not stop hyperventilating. Not because I was nervous or scared (I don't mind the open water at all), but because my body was so shocked by the cold water. I spent the first five minutes trying to just breathe and not DNF. Every time I put my face in the water, I found I couldn’t hold my breath. It was odd and sucked. Finally, I found my groove just in time to get kicked in the face HARD. Good times.

Swim ½ mile (about 800 yards): 15 minutes

{The rest is a blur. Hopped on my bike trying to make up some time}.

Bike 12 miles: 37 minutes (19 mph)

Run 3.1 miles: 26 minutes (8:20 pace) <WTF?

My transitions were long and sloppy. Not my best race. At all.

But still 4/56 in age group. Not sure how I pulled that off.

Best part of the race was the mega giant bottles of water (50 ounces!) given out at the finish. I hate it when races give you about 2 ounces in a Dixie cup afterwards. Bastards.

Ken was the best cheerleader for me. When I got out of the water and off of the bike he’d tell me how many people were ahead of me. He just took care of me in the way that makes you feel cherished and special.

So, after the race my weekend was just getting started. I came home and rode two hours on the bike (about 33 miles)….then the big test of my mental health and well being (not to mention physical fortitude) was a 91 mile ride on Sunday (5 hours, 46 minutes). I rode most of the Boulder Ironman Course (the race will happen for the first time next year, but they have the course posted online).

Number of flat tires: 2Number of times I had to call Ken:2Number of degrees outside: 90Number of ounces I drank: 150 maybe?Number of feet climbed: 2,700Number of times I peed: 0 (yeah, bad news)Number of calories eaten: 1,300Number of times I got lost: 2Number of times I bought a ham and cheese Hot Pocket at the gas station and threw it away after one bite (GROSS): 1

Things were looking good by the time I finished (the blood is a blister from the day before running with no socks on):

Here’s how the week shook out in terms of training:

Swim: 9,000 yards (~5.1 miles)Bike: 172 milesRun: 13.6

Total mileage: 190.7

Total time: 16 hours, 16 minutes

Ever had a panic attack, trouble breathing, etc. doing an open water swim?

What’s the best food/drink you’ve ever had at the finish line (or aid station) of a race? When Ken and I did the 5-day Ride the Rockies bike event a few years back, we climbed up to the top of Wolfe Creek Pass. At the summit, they had heavily salted backed potatoes for us. That might sound odd, but it was the best snack ever.

Friday, August 23, 2013

Tomorrow morning I’m doing the Iron Girl Sprint Triathlon in Denver, courtesy of Athleta. This will be my third time doing this race. They changed the venue this year, so I am a course virgin.

2011 (check out my pinky. I must think I’m sipping a cup of tea, or giving you the finger)

2012

I love this race because:

Estrogen is overflowing at this 100% women’s race

This is a first time triathlon for a lot of the people who do this race. Lots of inspiring stories.

There are tampons and aromatic antibacterial soaps on a table outside the potties

At the end, there is the absolute best spread of food I've ever seen at a race and you eat on linen table cloths

My old lady wave (45+) starts at 7:30 a.m. I will be the one in the orange cap. This means about a 4:30 a.m. wake up call. Early morning wake ups suck, but they REALLY suck when you are racing and stressed and trying to remember every detail in the world.

That said, here are My Tips for Race Morning:

1. Do the things that you CAN do the night before. Lay out your race outfit. Pack your bag (don’t forget to have post race clothes and flip flops). Prepare your breakfast and stick it in the fridge. Set the coffee pot on a timer. Print out directions to the race start. Charge your Garmin/iPod, etc. Pin on your bib. Set your alarm.

Getting organized the night before will remove some stress and you will sleep like a baby (a baby with colic, that is – I usually don’t sleep well the night before a race).

(Btw, if you are looking for a triathlon bag to lug all your crap in, Ken got me this one a couple years ago for Christmas and it is the BEST).

2.Wake up. Breathe. Don’t stress yourself out. Think of a mantra or quote that calms you down. I like, “Think strong. Be strong. Finish strong.” Take your nervous energy and channel it into the positive.

3. Start drinking water. Especially if your race is long one and will be hot, you hopefully will have started hydrating a couple days before the event. But, be sure to take in a significant amount of water a couple hours before. That should give you enough time to pee it out.

4. Eat something. Like they say, don’t do anything new on race day. This means eat whatever you normally eat. For me, it’s peanut butter and jelly on whole wheat bread and a banana.

5. If you are into this sort of thing, drink a large cup of steaming coffee. Hopefully this will lead to #6 (well, it will actually lead to number two, but you know what I mean).

6.Poop. There is nothing better than having a satisfying dump on race morning.

7. If time allows, re-check the weather and make sure you’re prepared for anything.

8. For God’s sake, get there early. The last thing you want to do is add to your race day stress by running late. Give yourself time to take in the start area, warm up a bit, put on sunscreen and most importantly, used the loo.

9. Now, go out and enjoy the hell out of yourself. Remember - first place, last place or somewhere in the middle - you GET TO DO THIS and you are extremely fortunate.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

With all this training I’ve stopped doing extras like making huge, complicated dinners (well, I never did that anyway), doing laundry (well, I never did that either – Ken does it and the kids do their own – hate me if you want), and reading lots of books (anytime I sit down to read, I find myself laying down then passing out in a second).

What I have not cut out is caffeine, TV, wine and food - lots of it. I know there are lots of you who don’t watch TV. I happen to love it – but only for an hour or two starting at 7pm. It is my way of relaxing and winding down from the day. My two dear and intimate friends, Ken and Wine, are usually there with me as well.

That said, here are a few new favorites I’ve added into my life in recent days.

1. Favorite Sandwich – My mom and I went to Panera today. Please tell me you have had their Grown Up Grilled Cheese. It is a million types of cheeses (including Gruyere – trés fancy) on sourdough bread with bacon. I skipped the bacon (but made up for it later when I took a shower using bacon soap while sipping a bacon martini and putting on bacon lip-gloss <- those items are real by the way, but I don’t really use them. I’m already scared enough about being mauled by a bear).

I substituted tomatoes and avocado for the bacon. And, GOOD LORD. There is nothing ever wrong about cheese, avocado and buttery bread. I offered my mom a bite and she said “No” that she really isn't that into cheese and I thought I might have to put her on a 72-hour hold. But, she clarified that she does love cheese, just not big hunky slices all melted. Hmmm…still confused by that.

Note: Panera now posts calories contents on its menu. If calories freak you out, you might not want this sandwich because I think it was about 870 calories (a Big Mac is only 550!)

I can’t quite bring myself to take pictures of my food, especially in restaurants (I’m not a true blogger I guess), so here is the stock photo:

2. Favorite Series – I cannot remember a time when summer TV has been this bad. We have nothing to watch but House Hunters and Breaking Bad (which I have loved from the first season).

First World Problems – #FWP!!!

I read the book, Orange is the New Black a few years ago and when I heard it was a series through Netflix, I had to watch. Plus, it’s only $7.99 to stream Netflix per month. Double score. I am loving OITNB. Just the right amount of drama and humor for my taste. Sometimes Ken and I don’t like the same shows (I am not sure what his problem is that he’s not into the Bachelorette), but this is one we both like to watch. Triple score.

3. Favorite Bar (no, not that kind of bar) – I’ve always liked Luna Bars, especially the chocolate/coconut one. The other day on my long trail run I tried the carrot cake bar. I know this is not a new flavor, but it was new to me. The mix of cinnamon, walnuts and carrots really reminded me of fall and with 28 g of carbs, 8 g of protein and some sodium/potassium, I thought it was a reasonably substantial and healthy bar (although I’ll still take carrot cake with massive amounts of cream cheese frosting any day. It gets kind of messy on a trail run).

4. Favorite Coffee – a few months ago I did review on the Keurig coffeemaker. At that time, I still thought my brewed Mr. Coffee coffee was better. But, that was before I tried Starbucks French Roast K-Cups. I love a really bold, strong, full bodied coffee and this one is the BEST (imho). I’ve started buying it by the case (54 K Cups) off of Amazon. Early in the morning Sam and I share a small pot of coffee. Then I go do whatever workout I have to do and come home (usually a good 3 hours later) and have a large cup of French Roast.

(Btw, I think my shoulders are getting bigger from all the swimming. If I look tired, I am).

5. Favorite Wine. I love chardonnay. End of story. I am very close minded about it. Do not offer me Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc.

The other night my friend Erika brought over some Posh Pinot Grigio. I snubbed my nose at it (good friend that I am), but then she left the remainder in my fridge and I wasn't about to let it go to waste. This stuff is amazing. Especially for a hot summer day. It is light, crisp and smooth. Plus, it has one of my favorite wine labels of all time. Only bad thing - they do not make chardonnay, which is clearly a felony. I think Posh goes for about $10.99 per bottle, so pretty reasonable.

That’s all I got. But, I’d love to hear from you!

Do you have any recent favorites?

What do you think of restaurants posting calories on their menus? Does it motivate you to make different choices than you would otherwise? I think it’s a good idea. While I don’t count calories per se, I think for those trying to lose weight or eat healthier, it might encourage different choices. I don’t think people realize how many calories are in certain foods.

Monday, August 19, 2013

Another week of training has wrapped up, but not before we saw a huge display of bear poop on our trail run yesterday. My friend, Joie, must be a poop connoisseur because she could recognize the types of berries in the poop and conclude that, indeed, it was a bear who laid this huge dump. She also knew ‘twas not fresh.

I am glad it was not fresh because it would suck to be attacked by a bear and not be able to do my Ironman. I guess I should say it would suck to be attacked by a bear and not be able to raise my children before I said anything about Ironman, but what can I say? (Btw, I always get it mixed up – i.e., what you are supposed to do when approached by a bear vs. a mountain lion. I know with one of them you are supposed to look really big like you are a monster and one of them you are supposed to play dead).

The run was long (13.7 miles), hot and lovely. I don’t usually run with a Camelback (just camel toe), but there is not exactly a 7-11 on this remote trail so I suck on this bag instead (mmmm…Slurpees).

In other news of the week – I finally got fitted for a triathlon bike. Tri bikes aren’t like other bikes. Just to make it confusing, every bike will you fit you differently, so it’s not like you can say you’re 5’ 5” and pick a bike. The fit is hugely important.

You can see below in the first picture I’m set up like my road bike (the one against the wall). The second picture I am set up how I will be on a tri bike. Seat is higher and closer to aero bars. Crank is smaller. Aero bars are lower. And, a bunch of other crap I can’t remember. So, at least now I know based on my fitting, which bikes and sizes will work for me. The pain in the ass thing now is just finding a bike I can steal afford. My back has been killing me after I get off the bike and I am blaming it on my current poor fitting.

You’ve been waiting for it. Here’s how this week wrapped up with training:

I’m not sure what the “other” category is. Probably time in the bathroom reading People Magazine.

Bike – 97 milesRun– 32.7 milesSwim – 4.4 miles (~7,800 yards)

Totals: 134.1 miles. 15 hours, 5 minutes.

I think I’m holding up pretty damn well with the training except for Saturday. That day I had to bike 2.5 hours, run 20 minutes and swim for 75 minutes. I did all of those workouts consecutively and I thought I fueled pretty well. However in the last few laps in the pool (hour #4 of the workout) I got dizzy and drunk feeling. I stopped the swim a couple of minutes early. When I walked in the house Ken took one look at me and said, “I’m no doctor, but I think you need to eat something.” I have decided for sure that the reason the swim is at the beginning of a race is because if it was last everyone would drown.

This has nothing to do with anything (except that writing about the bear in the beginning reminded me of it), but did you see this last week on CNN?

Is this a joke? If not, I would like to have one.

What kind of hydration pack, belt, bottle do you use while you run? On short runs when it’s really hot I carry a handheld. For runs longer than 1.5 hours I use a Nathan fuel belt with 2-10 oz bottles and stop for water. I use the Camelback sometimes on long, hot trail runs.

Have you ever seriously bonked in a race or workout? I don’t know if I’ve ever had a true bonk where I just can’t keep going. But, I’ve for sure had times when I felt depleted and sick.

Friday, August 16, 2013

Yes, it certainly is presumptuous of me to assume these are things you do not know about running (that means I make an ASS out of U and ME). I am sure that being the studly runners you are, most of you know some, if not all, of these crazy facts about our sport. But, I was ignorant of some of these things. So, here goes:

1. Your foot has 26 bones, 33 joints and 112 ligaments. No wonder it is so freaking hard to run even one mile. All of those damn bone-joint-ligaments have to move as a unit. Kind of blows my mind (I think I have an extra bone given that long second toe).

2. Running with music can boost your performance up to 15%, but only if you are a certain kind of runner. If you are the type who gets pumped from external stimuli, then music will probably benefit you. If you are a more inward, meditative runner, then music might not do as much and maybe even annoy the hell out of you.

3. Your nose runs like a faucet when you run because the increased breathing and air flow makes your nose spastic. 56% of runners reported exercised induced rhinitis (the formal name for snot-flowing-out-of-your-nose) while running outside. You are not alone. Time to perfect your snot rocket technique.

4. The human heart creates enough pressure when you run to squirt blood 30 feet. This might be a nice trick for Halloween.

5. Running always makes you feel like you have to pee because your heart pumps more blood, making your kidneys possibly produce more urine (especially if you drank 95 ounces of coffee before the run). If you have a weak sphincter, you may also leak while running.

6. The oldest person to run a marathon was Fauja Singh of India (more info on this amazing man HERE). He did this in 2011 and was 100 years old at the time. He didn’t start running until he was 89 years old. I am not sure how that happens (like how you get out of your chair at 89 and tell your fellow Bingo players you need to take a run) – but it just goes to show you that it is never too late to start.

7. It takes 200 muscles to take a step when you run. No wonder I am so freaking tired all of the time.

8. You often feel like you have to poop when you run because everything in your stomach gets jostled around. The relentless pounding can make your breakfast move through pretty quickly. Also, the blood that typically goes to your digestive tract can be diverted to other organs when you run, making things a bit dicey. Lastly, if you are running a race, the anxiety about the race itself can bring on that urge to unload. What to do about it? Read my article “How Not to Crap Your Pants on the Run.”

Here I am at my race last weekend. You would not know it by my smile, but my heart is about to squirt blood 30 feet, I am using 200 muscles, I have just peed myself, my nose is running, and I have to poop.

True, there was no rest day in there, but this week I have TWO OF THEM. Stop my beating heart.

Bike – 155 milesRun – 25 milesSwim – 4.5 miles (~7,900 yards)

Totals: 184.5 miles. 16 hours, 34 minutes.

That, in a nutshell, is why I am tired. I do think I’m adjusting to these long training weeks. I have to pinch myself that I am really doing all of this to become an Ironman in November. It gives me the chills, the butterflies and makes me want to throw up all at the same time.

It is also why my hair is straggly and bleached out. It is either being doused in chlorine or thrown up into a makeshift bun nearly 100% of the time. I might need to shave my head and start over once I’m done with all of this. I think Brittany Spears did that.

Coach did give me some awesome shampoo for swimmers and I think it’s helping. Plus, it smells good.

She also gave me a jar of Salt Stick (electrolyte tabs), Tri Slide (makes getting the wetsuit on/off easier – think of full body lube) and Foggle – the ultimate goggle de-fogger.

I am a huge smell person (my family would second that – Mom, can you please not fart again in the car and lock the windows?). What I mean is, I love perfumey smells in lotions, detergents, soaps, candles and shampoos. Maybe it is to ultimately cover up all of the odiferous things I expel.

I have had this smell addiction since I was in middle school. I used to be obsessed with Gee, Your Hair Smells Terrific Shampoo and Loves Baby Soft. I don’t know if they sell either of those anymore. Oh, and I also loved Body on Tap shampoo.

Monday, August 12, 2013

As I spent hours alone on the bike yesterday (5½ to be exact), I was thinking about how I try to make each day, each action count. One of my greatest fears is having things not done, words not said, gratitude not shown. So, on that note:

20 Things You Will Never Regret

Your workout that you didn’t want to do, but did anyway.

Carrying at least $3 with you on a bike or run.

Not sending emails when you are angry.

Doing something for someone “just because.”

Wearing a Road ID.

Taking a risk and doing something that really scares the crap out of you.

Flossing.

Sending a thank you note.

High fiving a kid during a race.

Laughing at yourself.

Volunteering at a race.

Taking a cake or cookies to the neighbor who just moved in on your street.

That is why I brought out my best chicken neck and crazy eyes just for you. I am not sure what Ken is doing in the back but he looks way too relaxed to be about to run 13.1 miles.

I had a headache and bad stomach before the race (blame it on Friday night festivities. Never again. Well, maybe). Let’s just say McDonald’s bathroom might never be the same (and Kathy’s flusher didn’t work, so that was double trouble).

Side note: At the start of the race it was 45 degrees. Perfection.

My plan for this race was to go out easy for the first half and pick it up if I felt good. When I hit mile 6.5, I was feeling much too comfortable running easier, so I stuck with that. No need to exert myself. Plus, I knew I had a huge training day coming up tomorrow and didn’t want to blast out my legs on this race. So, I cruised along cursing the awful Colorado scenery and being grateful for that McDonald’s pre race pit stop. I was 14 pounds lighter at least.

Finish time = 1:54 (8:42 average). This is at least 8 minutes slower than I have done this race in the past, but I am keeping my eye on that big Ironman prize and going with the plan. I am proud of myself. Really I am. And, just for the record – I don’t think any half marathon is “easy” even if you go slower. It’s still damn 13.1 miles of running.

I met some SUAR readers today: Jimi, Lindsey, Tammie, Michelle, and Julie to name a few. I love our community! And, I visited with Marshall Ulrich for a bit (remember when I did a review of his bookRunning on Empty awhile back? Great read).

So, let me tell you what is different about Ironman training (well there are a million things, but this is thing #654)– after you finish a half marathon race, you are not done for the day. You have to come home and go swim, which was the very last thing I wanted to do. The first thing I wanted to do was eat Chili Cheese Fritos and watch House Hunters. But, I swam even though this blog is not called Shut Up and Swim.

As for tomorrow…well – it seems I have a 5 ½ hour bike ride on tap. I have to be home by 10:00 a.m. for a brunch date, so it is with pure disgust (and a little intrigue) that I must get up at 4:00 a.m. to be on the bike trainer by 4:30 a.m. I’ll do the first two hours on the trainer, then head outdoors for the last 3 ½ hours once it gets light. By the way, I just got a new trainer for my bike (triathlons are a freaking money pit). Now all I need is a tri bike. Baby steps.

Some more pictures from today:

Me and my main man. I love him.

Kathy ran her 2nd half marathon today and had a 4 minute PR! I was so proud of her that I made her pick me up

Oh, and one picture of Heidi and me from last night. Because I had to. She always wants to make out with me. I usually don’t let her get past first base.

Any recommendations on a triathlon bike? I’d like to spend less than $2,000 if possible and am open to used bikes too.

Did you race this weekend? Where and how did it go?

Do you watch HGTV? We have become obsessed. House Hunters is our family favorite right now.

Maybe I will wear both shoes on my ride tomorrow and take a survey around Boulder County.

Speaking of my ride tomorrow – it will be a little slice of hell. I love to be way more dramatic than I need to be. I’m actually kind of looking forward to it.

Coach has me riding from home about 13 miles to the base of a killer hill (well, mountain – it’s Old Stage for you locals). I have to then ride up and down it three times then head for home. Right off the bike is a 40 minute run.

The ultra good news is that today I saw PT Guru and he cleared me and my back to get on track again with Ironman Florida training. Last week I only did about 7 to 8 hours of training. This week, if all goes well, it will be about double that. While seeing the PT today I realized he has treated all kinds of pros, my favorite being Chrissie Wellington – many time world Ironman champ. I wonder if we laid on the same table.

She wrote him a note on this photo, which I’m sure you can’t read, but it was personal and nice.

Let me tell you why I love this woman. She is one of the most inspiring athletes out there, IMHAO (In My Humble Ass Opinion). She is a four time Ironman World Champion (2007-2009, 2011). Not much of an athlete in her early years, she ran her first marathon in 2002 (3:08!!), and did her first triathlon in 2004. How the hell only two years later she became a world champ is mind boggling. All that said, she just seems so damn down to earth (I still haven’t read A Life Without Limits, really need to).

I just so happen to have a picture of Chrissie on my wall in my office from when she made history and ran a 8:18:13 Ironman. With that picture are some incredibly inspiring and motivating words for each and every one of us who has the guts to dream, the will to try, and the balls to make it to the start line.

Sorry for the poor quality, but this is the actual page from my desk. I love all the “What ifs…”, but my favorites are:

What if you erase doubt, embrace pain and smile from your heart?

What if your determination becomes bigger than your fears?

Who inspires you to do better and to be better? Jesus? Oprah? Your dog? Who?